Watch-case



(No Model.)

A. D. 00B.

WATCH GASE.

No. 269,386. Patented Deo. 19, 1882 INVENT R`..

AMV/8&0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.ALMER D. COE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATCH-CASE. l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,386, dated December 19, 1882.

Application filed July '27, ISSQ. (No model.)

To all lwhom it may concern Beit known that I, ALMER I). COE, ofChicago, in the county ot' Cook and State ot lllinois, have invented certain new and usel'ul Improvements in Vatcb Cases for American fateli-Movements; and l do hereby declare lthat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to features of construction in cases forAmerican watches, having for their object to render the cases interchangeable for the two principal classes of American stem-winding movements known to the trade, and constituting the greater part of the watch es kept for sale in this country. For the purposes of this description, and with reference to these features of their construction which are concerned in this invention, American watch-movements will be divided into two classes-to wit, the Valtham class and the Elgin classeach ot' which classes, however,em braces other movements than those made at lWaltham or Elgin. Movements of the Walth am class are distinguishable with reference to this improvement in cases mainly by two features-viz., first, as having the winding-square n'Xed to the tirst or horizontal pinion-shaft of the winding mechanismin the movement, and arranged to protrude beyond the margin of the movement opposite the figure 3 ofthe dial, a nd by having the protruding end of the handsetting lever located opposite the figure 5 on the dial. Movements of the Elgin class have the horizontal pinion-shaft of the winding mechanism located at the same circumferential point in the movement as the Waltham class; but instead of having a square iixed thereto the said pinion-shalt is socketed to admit a square winding-pin, and the settinglever protrudes at a point a little beyond the dial-figure 5. Two classes or lines'of eases, properly notched and otherwise titted to immediately receive these several movements, have been provided, those for the laltham class having a socketed winding-stem to re- 'ceive the square ot' this class of movements,

and those for the Elgin class having a square windingpin fixed to the windingstem, adapted to enter the socketed pinion-shaft of the movement. Eachclassofcases,also,hasthenotehes in the bezel and in the bezel-snap on the casecenterappropriately located for the particular class ot' movements for which the case is intended. A dealer havingmovements ot'both classes in stock has thus needed to also carry two separate lines of eases, and, as the styles and qualities of such cases are various, to keep a desirable assortment has required a considerable investment in this single class of goods. By my invention, which, as above stated, is intended to provide a case adapted to receive a movement of either class, the investment necessary to aiiord the same selection as to styles or quality is reduced one-half; or by the same investment a milch more extended assortment of cases may be kept on hand.

One feature of construction which distinguishes my invention for the purpose above statedV is the combination, with the case-cen1 ter and connected parts, of a bezel having a suitable notch for the setting-lever, and adapted to be set in either one of the two different positions required by the two mentioned classes of movements.

Another feature of my invention consists in constructing cases for both classes of movements with a square socket in the windingstem, and providing a removable square pin which will be used with the socketed winding pinions of the Elgin class of movements, but which will be removed for the reception of the fixed square pin on the Waltham class of of a movement, showing the protruding winding-square of the laltham class and the sev eral positions ofthe hand-settinglevers in both Fig. 5 is a side elevaclasses of movements.

IOO

tion of the winding pinion of the Waltham movement, having a permanent square winding-pin rigid therewith. Fig. 6 is an axial section ot' the socketed winding-pinion ot' the Elgin class of movements. Fig. 7 is a fragment ot' the case rim or center, in side elevation, showing the broad notch cut in the bezel-flange.

A is the case-center. B is the bezel. C is the front back. D is the pendant. E is the winding-stem or key-pipe. F is the head of the lock-spring. Gis thespurol` theIiyspring. H is the removable winding-square of my improvement. I is the annular iiange or shoulder on the case-center, called the bezel-snap. J is the similar outer flange or shoulder on the center, called the back-snap L is the steadypin. M is the notch in the bezel-snap t'or the accommodation of the hand-setting lever. h is the notch in the bezel forthe same purpose. N is the winding-pinion ot' the Waltham class of movements, and n the square thereon. O

Vis the whirling-pinion of the Elgin class ot' movements, and o the socket therein. P is the setting-lever ofthe Elgin class ot' movements, and lt is the setting-lever of the Waltham class.

lt is understood that the winding-pinion ot the movement, when the latter is placed in the case, always occupies the position directly opposite the pendant D. Irovision must therefore be made in an interchangeable case at two points for the several setting-levers P and R ot' the two several classes of movements above mentioned. As said setting-levers dit't'erin position in the two movements only veryslightly, provision is made in the center A for the ad mission of either of them by cutting the notch M', Fig. l, in the bezel-snap I, said notch M being of sufficient width and properly located to take in either one of the levers P and It.

In the bezel B the necessary notch H for the accommodation ofthe setting-lever is, however, made of the usual width or only sui'iicient to accommodate either lever, which levers are usually of about the same width in both classes otmovements. Thus, providing; but a single notch in the bezel for the admission of the setting-lever, it is necessary to so construct the bezel in other respects that it may be applied to the bezel-snap on the center in either ofthe two positions required by the. particular movement present in the case. lo enable this to be done several modifications of the bezel and ot' the parts in the case concerned therewith are necessary. Thus it is usual to notch the bezel either on its lateral edge or on the bottom, or both, to make room for the head F of the lock-spring. It is also customary to cut the bezel opposite the back-hinge. Sometimes the bezel is also notched to give play to the iiy-spring spur G, and elsewhere for thepurpose ot' accommodating the case-spring screwheads when these are not iush with the center. It is always notched to admit the steadypin. In my improvement I dispense with all these notches and cuts of the bezel, except those for the setting-lever and steady-pin, and

for the latter or steady-pin two notches are provided, one ot' which will be used when the case contains a movement ot' the Taltham class and the other ot' which will be used when the case contains a movement of' the Elgin class, said notches being so situated as to bring the settinglever notch M in the proper position according to the requirements of the movement present in the case.

The notches for the accommodation ot' the. casespring screws may ot' course be easily obviated, as is now frequently done, by simply setting the heads ot these screws tlush with the case-center. Theothernotches-minn-ly,those tor the lock-spring case, hinge, and fly-spring spurmay also manifestly be dispensed with by so enlarging the case-center as to give place for the parts which usually encroach upon the bezel and make these notches or cuts therein necessary. Such diametiical enlargement ot' the case is, however, objectionable, and I find that it is notstrictlynecessary. To eticct the object without such enlargement Iv make the following changes: First, the bezel is made narrower on its lower edge or t'ace, B', which is in part or wholly etl'ected by making the bezel with a universal thumb-notch or annular recess, b, in its lower outer edge, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3; second, the loclcspring head F is set outward in the case-center .slightlyY farther than common, which may beaccomplished by increasing the depth ot' the inner recess within said center at the point opposite the pendant, and by giving the case-spring a slight deflection in its curved or circular part near the head F, so as to set outward into the deepened recess described, but more particularly by so forming the inner angle, j", ot' said head, as shown, that when the spring` is thrust inward to release the back of the case said angle enters the recess b of the bezel. The upper' edge ot' the lock-spring head F is also adapted to recede without striking the bezel in opening the case, as clearly indicated in the sectional Fig. The case-spring spur tinds room for its necessary movement in the narrowing of the bezel at its base or lower surface, as described.

The twonotehes provided in the bottom edge of the bezel for the steady-mn Land intended to be alternatively used according to the requirement ot' the movement present in the case are shown at L and L, Fig. 3, being located at a distance apart from center to center corresponding with the distance from center to center of the setting-levers P It, Fig. 4.

In watch-cases adapted for only one class of movements, as heretofore. made, the notch for the setting-lever ot'ten extends downward through the bezel snap or tiange I on the center, and also into or part way through the bat-k snap or ledge J. It' the proposed wide notch M, Fig. l, were to be made to extend into the IOO back-snap, as described, there would ofcourse be lett a space at one side ot' the setting-lever of either' movement, beneath the lower-edge ot' the bczehthrongh which dirt might beadmitted to the movement. In order to avoid this objectionable result, I make the back-snap Jshallower than is com monly done, so that the entire cut M will be contained in the bezel-snap I, by-which means obviously the bezel will close the space at the side of the setting-lever. It' preferred, the usual height or depth ofthe backsnap J ofthe case-center may be preserved by lowering the surface of the center exterior to said snap, or, in other words, by making the center slightly thinner between the edges of the case-backs. If this is done, the same space will be preserved within the case by extending thefront or top back to a degree corresponding with the reduction in the thickness ofthe case-center, as suggested.

To provide for the dierence between the two classes of movements with respect to the winding devices, all winding-stems E ot' my improved interchangeable cases are provided with the socket e, made of suitable size to admit the square a of the Waltham class of movement, and a removable square pin, H, Fig. 2, is provided. titted lat one end to be set firmly in said square socket e ot' the winding-stem and at the other end made slightly smaller, so as to tit the corresponding socket 0in the winding-pinion shaft() of the Elgin class of movements. rl`he dilference in size between the opposite ends of the removable square H is owing to the fact that as now constructed the socket o of the Elgin winding-pinion shaft is a trifle smaller than the square a of the Taltham pinion-shaft N. Ot' course, it' a change shall he made in either class ot' movements, so as to make the dimensions ot' these parts to correspond, there will thereafter' be no necessity for making the removable pin H otherwise than of uniform diameter. Theinequalitynow required may, it' preferred, be obtained by making the opposite ends of said square pin unequally tapering. This feature ot' unequal thickness of the squarel pin H, which is used only with the Elgin movement,` perfectly prevents said pin from becoming detached from the socket e of the winding-stem and falling through the continuous socket or hole o ofthe shaft 0 into the movement. Should said socket o be enlarged to correspond with the size of the socketJ c, other provision may be required to preventthe detachment of removable square pin H from the socket ot' the windingstem E-as,for example,asmall screw entering the side of the winding-stem and engaging a notch iu-the square H similar to the screw which holds the winding-stem to the pendant.

There is a slight difference between the two classes of movements mentioned in respect to the distance from the supporting flange or shoulder on the-movement and the axis of the winding-pinion, the socket 0 ofthe Elgin class being slightly farther from or below said supporting-tlange ofthe movement than the winding-square a ofthe Waltham movement. This, however, does not operate as an obstacle to the success of the interchangeable case, since the difference is so slight that the windingstem, having ordinary and reasonably free movement within the pendant, will connect properly with the winding device of either movement; but, it' desired, the pendant-axis may be located at a point equally above the axis of the Elgin winding-socket and below the winding-square ofthe Waltham. The ordinary and desirable freedom of movement on the part ofthe winding-stein then insures perfect operation of the connecting devices above described. The Waltham watch sits a little higher in the case-center than the Elgin class ot' movements, anti the interchangeable case therefore requires to be made so as to give room in this direction for either movement. The differences last mentioned are all very slight, and require no modification of the case as above described to suit both classes of movements that will in any manner distinguish the case to the eye. One other fact shouldbe mentioned-namely, that the Elgin class of movements are. provided with a steady-pin arranged to project radially opposite the dial, Fig. l1, and in position to entera corresponding hole in the bezel-snap of the case. In the interchangeable case described this hole is ot' course provided for said steady-pin. It will occur to many that the notch for the settinglever may be left uncut in the bezel of otherwise ordinary construction; but l wish it to be understood that a case provided with the broad notch M in the bezel-snap contains my invention whether the bezel be notched and ot' the movable description herein set forth or not. It will also occur to case-makers that, a movable bezel being provided,havinga notch, M', and two steady-pin notches, L' L, the notch M may be left uncut, and that a suitable narrow notch may be cut in the bezel-snap I by the watch-maker for the accommodation of the setting-lever. I also wish it understood that such uncut bezel-snapis included in my claim for the combination, with the case-center, ot' the movable bezel B.

W'hile I have spoken of the steady-pin L andthe notches L and L therefor in the bezel as being present in my improved interchangeable case, and while I greatly prefer that said steady-pin and bezel-notches shall Abe used, it is possible to dispense with them in a movable bezel without departure from my invention. ln this case the setting-lever notch M will serve as a guide to the position of the bezel.

The second clause ot' the appended claim is intended to cover the construction of the case and movable bezel without respect to the presence of the steady-pin and notches.

The feature ot' the wide notch M may obviously be applied to open-faced watches in which the iiauge I, above described as a bezelsnap, is present only as a finish.

I am aware that watch-makers have sometimes fitted a socketed winding-stem to an Elgin case by driving a permanent plug into the socket of the winding-stem and squaring its protruding end to tit the socket o. This does not anticipate my invention, for the rea- IIO lable bezel contrived to clear the ease-springs son that such plug` has not thus been inserted with a View to its removal or as a feature in an interchangeable case.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a Watch-case, the combination, with the ease-center havingthe back snap or ledge J depressed to allow the setting-lever of the movet ment to project above the same, ot' an atljustt adapted to be set in'either ot the two positions called for by the location of the hand-setting` levers of said classes ot' movements, substantially as described.

3. In an interchangeable watch-ease, acenter having; the ledge J depressed and provided with the broad notch M in the flange I, in combination with an adjustable bezel, substnntially as and for the purposes set forth.

4.-. In combination with the ense-center,v the adjustable bezel provided with a continuous thumbnotch sind the catch-spring; arranged to work within the thumb-notch ot' the bezel, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the t'tneg'oine; as my invention I alix my signature in presence, of two Witnesses.

ALMER I). (JOE.

Witnesses:

M. E. DAYTON, Jnssn (Jox, Jr. 

